A Connecticut dentist who was accused of Medicaid fraud has agreed to a plea deal that can help him avoid prison time, CTInsider reported Nov. 21.
Christian O'Connor, DMD, was accused in 2021 of billing Medicaid for more than $200,000 in services he didn't perform. In September, he rejected a plea bargain that included three years of probation and would have required him to make an up-front payment for the claims he allegedly submitted to Medicaid.
As part of the plea bargain accepted Nov. 20, Dr. O'Connor pleaded no contest to health insurance fraud and first-degree larceny. The prosecutor can argue for Dr. O'Connor to serve up to one year in prison unless he pays $200,484 in restitution by his sentencing date.
If Dr. O'Connor does make the payment, he could receive a three-year conditional discharge. He can face up to five years in prison time and additional penalties if he gets arrested within the three-year time frame, the news organization reported. As part of the conditional discharge, Dr. O'Connor will also be barred from providing Medicaid services for three years.